Petunia plant named ‘Balsursite’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Balsursite’, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Petunia x hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsursite’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant botanically known as Petunia x hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsursite’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during June 2016. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Petunia cultivars that have a mounded-trailing growth habit suitable for hanging basket, pot plant, and landscape use.

The new Petunia cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is ColorRush White ‘Balcushite’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,627, characterized by its white-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Petunia x hybrida breeding selection coded PET-1321-03, not patented, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, spreading growth habit. The new cultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during March 2017 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since March 2017 in Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsursite’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant:

-   -   1. White-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having lower growth vigor. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having lower growth vigor and a more mounded growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Petunia cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ColorBlitz Snowy White ‘Flortunswh’, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Flortunswh’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are earlier to flower than plants         of ‘Flortunswh’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have slightly more growth vigor         than plants of ‘Flortunswh’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a more mounded growth habit         than plants of ‘Flortunswh’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balsursbluv’. The plants were approximately 11-weeks old. The plants were grown in 6-inch containers for approximately 7 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balsursite’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balsursite’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in December 2021 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 11-week-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a polycarbonate greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 6-inch containers for approximately 7 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch at transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 67° F. to 71° F. (19° C. to 22° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 70° F. (18° C. to 21° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia x hybrida ‘Balsursite’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—ColorRush White ‘Balcushite’, U.S. Plant Pat.             No. 31,627.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Petunia x hybrida breeding             selection coded PET-1321-03, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             mounded-trailing growth habit.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 15.0 cm. Width: Approximately 36.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching increases basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 6.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 16.0 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 2.5 cm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent             with a mixture of long and short hairs. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of young stems:144A. Color of             mature stems: 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 8. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Shape: Ovate. Margin:             Entire. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Broadly attenuate.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 5.3 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             2.9 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Moderately             glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage: 137A             with venation of 146C to indistinguishable. Color of lower             surface of young and mature foliage: Closest to 146B with             venation of 146D to indistinguishable.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: Approximately             3.0 mm. Texture: Moderately glandular pubescent with a             mixture of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color: 146D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balsursite’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             10 to 12 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Simple, salverform. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 8. Fragrance: None detected.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 7.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 4.5 cm. Diameter at apex: Approximately             8.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture:             Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color of petal portion: NN155A with midveins of             145A. Color of tube: 145D with venation of 145A.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 6.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Appearance: Matte. Margin: Entire, slightly wavy. Apex:             Cuspidate to rounded. Length from tube: Approximately             2.9 cm. Length of free portion: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width:             Approximately 3.0 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.             Texture of lower surface: Sparsely glandular pubescent.             Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface             when first and fully open: NN155D with weak midveins of             144A. Color of lower surface when first and fully open:             NN155D with midveins of 145A.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 3.3 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland             color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface:             NN155D tinted with 145D and venation of 144A. Color of outer             surface: 145D with venation of 145A to 145B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:             Linear. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately             2.8 cm. Width: Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface: 137A. Color             of lower surface: 138A with 144A at base.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to             stem. Length: Approximately 3.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent with a mixture             of long and short hairs. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color: 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,             basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Filament             length of fixed portion: Approximately 9.0 mm. Filament             color: NN155D. Anther shape: Bilobed. Anther length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: NN155A. Pollen amount:             Sparse. Pollen color: NN155D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 2.5 cm. Stigma             shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma             color: 145C. Style length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Style             color: 145D. Ovary length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Ovary             color: 144A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Petunia has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘Balsursite’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 